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Art and Soul- Week 4- Facing and Overcoming Resistance
This teaching series is all about making our lives into our greatest works of art.
In Matthew 4:1-11 We see Jesus face 3 types of resistance that we all face as we journey towards living out the unlived life within us, the living masterpiece we where created to create.
- Spiritual Resistance
- Self Resistance
- Circumstantial Resistance
Matthew 4:1-11-
“1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. 3 During that time the devil[a] came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’[c]” 7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’[d]” 8 Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” 10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’[e]” 11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.”
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Facing and Overcoming Spiritual Resistance
Romans 12:2-
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
How do we overcome spiritual resistance?
- Identify it- Call it out when you see it happening within your mind and life
- Trade it in- Trade in the mixed up box top for a better vision, a better picture for what life is intended to be about.
- Give it to Prayer- Pray and talk to God about the spiritual resistance you are facing, ask him to remove it or give you strength to move past it.
- Facing and Overcoming Self Resistance
Ephesians 5:17-
“The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.”
Galatians 5:19-20-
When you follow the desires of the flesh, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like thes
- Facing and Overcoming Circumstantial Resistance
1 Corinthians 10:13-
“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape (a way of provision) also, so that you will be able to endure it.”
Isaiah 40:31-
“But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”
